Firstly may we say THANK YOU to everyone who is working hard during this time to keep children and young people happy, learning, laughing, active and calm at this time of great uncertainty!
We are keen to share tools and resources as best we can, to support children’s wellbeing and education over this period of uncertainty. With this in mind, we have produced a range of advice and free resources for schools, as well as resources for parents/carers in your school.
We are keen to signpost schools and settings to resources that start valuable conversations with pupils and students. These resources also provide tested tools to maintain wellbeing at what can be an anxious time for children and young people.
Teams from across Leeds Children and Families Services’ are proud to have been part of the an extensive multi-agency and multi-profession task & finish group (including young people from Stairways, parents/carers and education settings) from across Yorkshire & the Humber to produce a comprehensive guide for schools and settings to support Children and Young People's Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Needs which may have arisen from Covid -19. The framework document can be found here:
(this document includes additional supporting information added for Leeds.)
Education settings are the key audience for this framework as it seeks to enable you to appropriately respond to children and young people’s mental health and emotional needs as settings become more fully open, supported by a coordinated, systemwide approach within local areas, and in line with governmental advice.
This guide intends to be needs based, practical and flexible; allowing local areas and settings to make adaptations as relevant and enable education settings to provide appropriate levels of response to the identified needs during and after their phased reopening.
This "Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources" document aims to provide a helpful summary of key resources and sources of support available to help promote and protect the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people at this challenging time. It also signposts to useful resources specifically around exam stress and anxiety.
A-Z Leeds Mental Health Services and Resources
The ‘Leeds A to Z Leeds Mental Health Services and Resources’ document provides a summary of the broad range of mental health support and resources for children and young people across Leeds, including support available via text, telephone and online.
Please note, this is a simplified document which aims to give an overview of a complex system, so it’s not possible to capture all routes of support. For more details visit the MindMate website.
Young people from across the city have pitched in to create a resource and campaign to support 16-19-year-olds to feel better during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feel Better Coronavirus Support Guide
The Feel Better Coronavirus Support Guide was developed following local research with young people, which found 16-19-year-olds would like more wellbeing support.
The guide features tips for getting through self-isolation, including ideas for staying active, making a daily plan and looking after mental wellbeing. It also offers information on where to get a test for COVID-19, and how to access local support.
Young people have created a range of videos to support the campaign and encourage others to stick with self-isolation. With tips including recording Tik Tok dance routines and drawing up an activity planner, the videos are bursting with real-life inspiration.
If you’d like to share on social media, you can find suggested key messages and a range of animations here.
We will also be posting updates and resources and advice on our Knowledge Hub group - PSHE/ Healthy School Teacher Network - please find us on khub.net or drop us an e mail to schoolwellbeing@leeds.gov.uk and we will invite you to join the group.
Please share this information far and wide!